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Based on experience of past accidents involving radioactive
substances or radiation, it has been thought prudent to prepare a well-equipped
system for radiation emergency medicine. In Japan, the 19 prefectures where
nuclear facilities are located or nearby are divided into eastern and western
divisions. The radiation emergency system is organized around the NIRS and
Hiroshima University, which are designated as the "local tertiary radiation
emergency hospitals" for the eastern and western divisions, respectively.
For emergencies, local governments have selected healthcare centers near nuclear
facilities as primary radiation medicine centers and local main hospitals as
secondary radiation emergency hospitals. The local tertiary radiation emergency
hospitals make up the system for receiving heavily exposed patients who require
advanced and specialized care and liaise with local governments and organizations
over the transport of the patients.
A cooperative system has been developed between specialized
medical institutions and specialists in various places in Japan to cope with
severe injuries caused
by radiation exposure including gastrointestinal disorders, hematological
disorders, and skin disorders.
With the standardization of chromosome analysis methods
and with the improvement of biological dosimetric techniques, a system of cooperation
with specialists
to evaluate radiation doses by analysis of chromosome aberrations has been
established.
A network has been established to perform rapid and accurate
dose estimation and evaluation of contamination in the event of a radiation
accident in
nuclear or radiation facilities.
